OBJECTIVES  Terminology Terminology  Breeds Breeds  Management Practices Management Practices  Feeding and Nutrition Feeding and Nutrition  Animal Behavior Animal Behavior  Animal Growth and Development Animal Growth and Development  Animal Health Animal Health  Evaluation Evaluation

TERMINOLOGY

BUCK  Sexually mature male

DOE/NANNY  A sexually mature female goat

WETHER  A castrated male

KID  A young goat

KIDDING  Act of giving birth in goats

MOHAIR  The fiber of an Angora goat

FLOCK  Herd of goats

CHEVON  Meat from goats

BREEDS

ANGORA Originated in Turkey Produces mohair Over 90% of the nation’s Angora goats reside in Texas, primarily in the Edward’s Plateau.

SOUTH AFRICAN BOER Originated in Africa Medium sized with prominent horns and broad, drooping ears Brown head and neck with white body Valued for meat production

SPANISH GOAT Originated in Spain Horned, any color or color pattern. Very prolific Tolerant of harsh conditions Relatively resistant to parasites Used for clearing brush and meat production

LAMANCHA Developed in the United States in the 1950’s Recognized by their very short ear (maximum of 1 inch) Any color or pattern Dairy goat

SAANEN Originated in Switzerland Large size with erect ears White or light cream Heaviest milking breed

NUBIAN Developed in Great Britain from African and Middle Eastern breeds Large goat with large pendulous ears and a roman nose Any color or color pattern Well-suited to hot climates Dual purpose breed

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION  Tattoo  Ear Tag

TATTOO Preferred method of Identification Does not harm the animals appearance

EAR TAG Easier identification method because animals don’t need to be caught Metal tags are more prone to cause infection Goats might try to eat tags on the very end of the ear

FACILITY SIZE  At least 15 square feet of pen per goat  Sheds: 10’ x 15’ providing shade, wind break, and dry space  Bedding: sand or good clean soil for drainage, top with shavings or straw during cold weather  Change frequently to prevent illness and hoof disease

TRIMMING HOOVES  Many foot and leg problems are caused by failure to trim or improper trimming  Time between trimming depends on age, terrain, nutrition and breed.  Goats in pens require more trimming than free ranged goats.

TRIMMING TOOLS  Gloves  Set of hoof trimmers and hoof knife

EXERCISE  A good meat goat looks athletic.  Purpose  Keep them lean  Control weight gain  Build stamina  Build muscle

EXERCISE TECHNIQUES  Chasing in a track or exercise pen  Leading at a fast pace  Objects to climb

FEEDING AND NUTRITION

TYPE OF FEED  Fiber (roughage) is essential for the proper functioning of the digestive system  Can efficiently digest coarse, fibrous plants.  Supplementation of legume hays (higher in protein) is needed if animals have limited access to grazing  High producing (dairy/growing) animals may require a balanced concentrate to meet all their nutritional requirements

AMOUNT OF FEED  Appetite is subject to a thermoregulatory brain control - feed intake fluctuates in accordance with environmental temperature  Show Goats should gain between 1/4-1/2 lb. per day.  This should be obtained with 3-4 lbs of feed per day.  Adult goats should receive no more than 1.5 lbs of concentrate per day

HOW TO FEED  Show Goats should be fed on an incline to increase leg muscle

WATER  Keep plenty of clean fresh water available at all times.  It is the most important nutrient for your goat!

MINERALS  Minerals labeled for sheep and goats lacks copper  Sheep can’t have copper, but goats need copper  Use free choice loose mineral

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

HERD DYNAMICS  Pecking order: each goat has its own place in the herd.  Introducing new goats in the herd will cause aggressive behavior until a new order is established  Goats will head butt to ensure or establish their rank in the herd.

SNEEZING  Goats may sneeze to warn other goats of danger

MOVING GOATS  Attempting to push a goat out of the way will result in the animal leaning back.  The best way to move a goat is to pull it.

HEAD-BUTTING AND PUSHING  May exhibit this behavior in play, but mostly it is aggressive  Head-butting and fighting between goats cannot be stopped

INGESTIVE BEHAVIOR  Differ from other ruminants because they are browsers  Grazing intake is related to the metabolic rate and body size of the goat, varying by breed and age of animal.  Goats tend to spend more time eating each day than other ruminants.  Often eat for as long as 11 hours.

EPIMELETIC BEHAVIOR  Care-giving or maternal behavior  Does licking and calling to their kids.

ET-EPIMELETIC BEHAVIOR (CARE-SEEKING)  Young kids if captured, held or hurt will emit a high pitched general distress call, which is capable of conveying emotional distress

SHELTER SEEKING BEHAVIOR  Goats are hardy and tolerate heat and cold well, but still need to have access to a well-constructed shed.  Goats will avoid being in the rain. If they sense a storm, they will attempt to find shelter.

ANIMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

MEASURES OF GROWTH  Birth weight  60 Day weight 90 Day weight  Yearling weight  Feedlot AGD  Mature weight

EFFICIENCY OF GROWTH  typically defined as units of feed per unit of gain.  In goats, the feed conversion is the same as lambs, 4-6:1 which means 4-6 pounds of feed consumed equals 1 pound of weight gain.

PUBERTY AND GESTATION  Age of puberty  Bucks: 6-8 months  Does: 6-8 months  Gestation length is 150 days  Seasonal breeders - breed in the fall and give birth in the spring.

ANIMAL HEALTH

URINARY CALCULI  Obstruction of the urinary tract  most frequently seen in young, castrated males and male goats fed a high grain diet  calculi are usually comprised of calcium phosphate salts  High grain diets have an imbalance of calcium: phosphorous ratio  Maintain 2:1 to 4:1ratio

CAPRINE ARTHRITIS ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME (CAE)  Viral disease causing weakness in the rear legs (kids) or swollen joints, particularly the knees (older goats)  No fever or loss of appetite  Unused legs lose muscle strength and structure and the infected kids eventually die  No corrective procedures or treatments

ENTEROTOXEMIA (OVER-EATING DISEASE)  Caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringins.  Can have no symptoms or symptoms such as diarrhea that are commonly confused with other diseases  Vaccinate kids once a month from the time they are 1 month old until they are 5-6 months old.  Treatment for the disease can be unrewarding and recoveries are rare

COCCIDIOSIS  Intestinal protozoans characterized by a foul smelling diarrhea, dehydration and fever.  Young kids up to four months of age are particularly susceptible to the disease because their immune systems are not developed.  Prevent with the medication Albon or Corid for one week beginning at about three or four weeks of age and again if they are very stressed, such as when separated from their mother.  Transmitted through fecal-to-oral contact  Treatment includes Banamine (prescription required) and electrolytes

EVALUATION

GENETICS  Buy from reputable/proven herds.  Line bred goats can be more predictable then others.

CONFORMATION  Long, level profile  Straight top and underline without dips or breaks  Smooth, flat shoulders  Straight, correct feet and legs  Level hip  Deep and thick hind leg  Forearm - indicator of muscle in young thin goats.  Width of body cavity - indicator of a frame that can support heavy muscle

CULL  Too narrow (body not wide enough to have muscle)  Poor structure (weak top, uneven underline, coarse shoulders, incorrect legs).  Loose hide - wrinkles (the hide should be tight and thin).

CONFORMATION

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